Shelby

#649 for girls in 2025, 444 births · #2,991 for boys in 2025, 41 births
Given to girls 90.0% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1991 · 10,220 births
Debut · girls
5 births
In top 100 · girls
14 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
148,830
since 1913

Shelby over time

girlsboys

Rank within each sex, plotted together. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020202020peak #33, 1991peak #385, 1938girlsboys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#649444#2,99141
2024#657446#2,59551
2023#656448#2,66049
2022#595503#3,00341
2021#549556#3,29735
2020#501606#2,58649
2019#495634#3,71629
2018#424738#3,70829
2017#373836#3,31234
2016#337986#2,99339
2015#2991,080#3,43132
2014#2941,114#3,15435
2013#2591,239#2,56247
2012#2201,447#2,63246
2011#2171,462#2,69944
2010#1841,680#2,63246
2009#1671,935#2,70245
2008#1582,148#1,89976
2007#1492,351#1,92873
2006#1332,620#1,89371
2005#1172,839#1,86968
2004#1122,988#1,53087
2003#943,537#1,63077
2002#753,961#1,258108
2001#684,370#1,298101
2000#704,561#1,087129
1999#625,018#884171
1998#495,893#878165
1997#436,701#751199
1996#357,950#589305
1995#387,632#555335
1994#407,546#536362
1993#378,122#512403
1992#349,396#473453
1991#3310,220#427524
1990#1003,517#525354
1989#2291,203#692205
1988#284881#691184
1987#273899#685176
1986#276900#691172
1985#281885#661177
1984#2421,042#715148
1983#351642#682157
1982#479435#788125
1981#424512#750135
1980#443482#758134
1979#469428#722144
1978#418483#647168
1977#382553#614187
1976#365575#617176
1975#308746#576195
1974#300798#587184
1973#328678#605171
1972#318754#605173
1971#393555#607188
1970#499400#647159
1969#547326#592173
1968#537319#634143
1967#549293#655129
1966#540304#599156
1965#576274#696114
1964#556317#713117
1963#505371#671136
1962#502370#709117
1961#494386#676131
1960#559307#619159
1959#516357#667131
1958#489382#670128
1957#493367#675128
1956#506345#659132
1955#490344#599151
1954#504310#599153
1953#531262#644122
1952#574228#617132
1951#557232#532162
1950#517248#565143
1949#532241#553147
1948#500266#523160
1947#425369#558146
1946#383397#492171
1945#387333#488153
1944#364367#476161
1943#314491#448200
1942#279599#484160
1941#213826#455168
1940#1871,006#436176
1939#1701,164#393207
1938#1421,714#385214
1937#1191,997#385203
1936#1781,071#458151
1935#84067#525121
1934#1,91317#496133
1933#1,83518#530115
1932#1,87718#576106
1931#2,58111#562109
1930—#569111
1929#2,92110#564110
1928#1,96119#62197
1927#2,85911#553124
1926—#562120
1925#3,3629#543128
1924#4,0027#608110
1923#3,9717#550126
1922#3,15210#559128
1921#2,76212#534136
1920#3,09710#499146
1919#3,8177#501141
1918#4,8095#572113
1917#3,0929#532119
1916#2,83310#574100
1915#4,2745#60590
1914#3,6185#53684
1913#3,1875#75938
1912—#58448
1911—#54830
1910—#52429
1909—#50526
1908—#42931
1907—#69914
1906—#40029
1905—#54918
1904—#68612
1903—#50518
1902—#68711
1901—#53614
1900—#53420
1899—#45717
1898—#41822
1897—#55614
1896—#55114
1895—#50116
1894—#54314
1893—#61511
1892—#44519
1891—#8416
1890—#60311
1889—#58111
1888—#50515
1887—#46114
1886—#6479
1885—#60410
1884—#46816
1883—#6778
1882—#51413
1881—#53311
1880—#6828
First appearance
1913

The first year at least five girls were named Shelby! It came in at #3,187, and was given to 5 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1926, when fewer than 5 girls a year got the name.

Where Shelby is popular in 2020

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedNHWashington: #456 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,942 girlsWAIdaho: #254 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 873 girlsIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #397 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,666 girlsMNIllinois: #764 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 3,750 girlsILWisconsin: #396 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,598 girlsWIMichigan: #632 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 2,912 girlsMINew York: #1,313 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 7,958 girlsNYMassachusetts: #730 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,977 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedRIOregon: #607 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,618 girlsORNevada: #365 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,393 girlsNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedSDIowa: #263 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 960 girlsIAIndiana: #537 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,335 girlsINOhio: #472 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 2,177 girlsOHPennsylvania: #435 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 1,934 girlsPANew Jersey: #432 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 1,834 girlsNJConnecticut: #518 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,250 girlsCTCalifornia: #579 for girls · 59 births · 1 in 2,953 girlsCAUtah: #663 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,222 girlsUTColorado: #407 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,657 girlsCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedNEMissouri: #331 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 1,288 girlsMOKentucky: #263 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,056 girlsKYWest Virginia: #173 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 605 girlsWVVirginia: #438 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,897 girlsVAMaryland: #905 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,463 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedDEArizona: #431 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,844 girlsAZNew Mexico: #319 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,030 girlsNMKansas: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedKSArkansas: #567 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,066 girlsARTennessee: #464 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,898 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #346 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 1,407 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #384 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,442 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedDCOklahoma: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedOKLouisiana: #331 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,233 girlsLAMississippi: #410 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,449 girlsMSAlabama: #467 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,871 girlsALGeorgia: #613 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 2,781 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedHITexas: #406 for girls · 78 births · 1 in 1,961 girlsTXFlorida: #574 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 2,774 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. West Virginia#173 · 1 in 605
  2. Idaho#254 · 1 in 873
  3. Iowa#263 · 1 in 960
  4. Kentucky#263 · 1 in 1,056
  5. New Mexico#319 · 1 in 1,030

Best ever in a state: #5 in Montana, 1991.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
West Virginia#17391 in 605
Idaho#25471 in 873
Iowa#263121 in 960
Kentucky#263161 in 1,056
New Mexico#31951 in 1,030
Louisiana#331151 in 1,233
Missouri#331191 in 1,288
North Carolina#346311 in 1,407
Nevada#36571 in 1,393
South Carolina#384121 in 1,442
Wisconsin#396131 in 1,598
Minnesota#397131 in 1,666
Texas#406781 in 1,961
Colorado#407131 in 1,657
Mississippi#41071 in 1,449
Arizona#431151 in 1,844
New Jersey#432191 in 1,834
Pennsylvania#435251 in 1,934
Virginia#438181 in 1,897
Washington#456151 in 1,942
Tennessee#464161 in 1,898
Alabama#467101 in 1,871
Ohio#472221 in 2,177
Connecticut#51851 in 2,250
Indiana#537121 in 2,335
Arkansas#56751 in 2,066
Florida#574291 in 2,774
California#579591 in 2,953
Oregon#60751 in 2,618
Georgia#613161 in 2,781
Michigan#632131 in 2,912
Utah#66351 in 3,222
Massachusetts#73061 in 3,977
Illinois#764131 in 3,750
Maryland#90551 in 4,463
New York#1,313101 in 7,958
Alaska———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Kansas———
Maine———
Montana———
Nebraska———
New Hampshire———
North Dakota———
Oklahoma———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Shelby
Momentum · girls
Falling
  • 8 spots since 2024 (#657 → #649)
  • 148 spots since 2020 (#501 → #649)
  • 350 spots since 2015 (#299 → #649)
  • Biggest jump: 1,073 spots in 1935 (#1,913 → #840)
  • Biggest drop: 75 spots in 1948 (#425 → #500)
Rise & fade · girls
78 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1913
  • Peaked 1991 at #33 (10,220 births)
  • Births halved by 1999, 8 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 14 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 14 yrs · run 1990–2003
  • Top 1,000: 91 yrs · run 1935–2025
Share of babies · girls
1 in 183
  • Highest: 1 in 183 girls born in 1991 were named Shelby (0.55%)
  • Latest: 1 in 3,620 girls born in 2025 (0.03%)
Era · girls
The 1990s
  • 48.4% of all girls named Shelby (71,995) were born in this decade
Girls or boys?
Flipped in 1936
  • Mostly boys until 1935, mostly girls since
all girlsall boys
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1910s46#2,833 (1916)#3,661
1920s95#1,961 (1928)#3,121
1930s6,077#119 (1937)#1,073
1940s4,895#187 (1940)#358
1950s3,075#489 (1958)#518
1960s3,267#494 (1961)#537
1970s5,970#300 (1974)#378
1980s7,881#229 (1989)#328
1990s71,995#33 (1991)#47
2000s31,310#68 (2001)#114
2010s11,216#184 (2010)#310
2020s3,003#501 (2020)#601

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Shelby in 2020

girls
#501
606 births · 1 in 2,668 girls
boys
#2,586
49 births · 1 in 35,226 boys

Top girls' names in 2020

  1. #1Olivia17,691
  2. #2Emma15,723
  3. #3Ava13,201
  4. #4Sophia13,105
  5. #5Charlotte13,100
  6. #6Amelia12,802
  7. #7Isabella12,226
  8. #8Mia11,269
  9. #9Evelyn9,517
  10. #10Harper8,849
  11. #501Shelby606

Top boys' names in 2020

  1. #1Liam19,865
  2. #2Noah18,464
  3. #3Oliver14,277
  4. #4Elijah13,238
  5. #5William12,676
  6. #6James12,390
  7. #7Benjamin12,264
  8. #8Lucas11,386
  9. #9Henry10,793
  10. #10Alexander10,268
  11. #2,586Shelby49
More about 2020

girls

1,616,549 girls got a published name in 2020; 1 in 2,668 of them was named Shelby, which outranked 97.1% of the 17,527 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 7.9% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shelby
  1. #497Maia616
  2. #499Dior613
  3. #500Legacy612
  4. #501Shelby606
  5. #501Sylvia606
  6. #503Alessia602
  7. #504Lorelei601
  8. #504Yaretzi601

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 2019
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,492Avayah#2,428 → #936
  2. ↑ 950Denisse#1,802 → #852
  3. ↑ 818Jianna#1,668 → #850
  4. ↑ 609Capri#1,291 → #682
  5. ↑ 550Rosalia#1,287 → #737
Fallers
  1. ↓ 393Yaritza#813 → #1,206
  2. ↓ 271Seraphina#1,000 → #1,271
  3. ↓ 207Marissa#874 → #1,081
  4. ↓ 203Annabella#644 → #847
  5. ↓ 195Jayde#832 → #1,027

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,726,076 boys got a published name in 2020; 1 in 35,226 of them was named Shelby, which outranked 81.6% of the 14,060 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 7.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shelby
  1. #2,546Zac50
  2. #2,546Zayvian50
  3. #2,546Zekiel50
  4. #2,586Shelby49
  5. #2,586Abimael49
  6. #2,586Abubakar49
  7. #2,586Aramis49
  8. #2,617Aadi48
  9. #2,617Aasir48
  10. #2,617Ajani48

Tied with 30 names at #2,586; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 2019
Risers
  1. ↑ 587Zyair#1,548 → #961
  2. ↑ 567Jaxtyn#1,152 → #585
  3. ↑ 539Jakobe#1,372 → #833
  4. ↑ 473Kylo#922 → #449
  5. ↑ 461Ander#1,085 → #624
Fallers
  1. ↓ 380Vivaan#875 → #1,255
  2. ↓ 282Alexzander#890 → #1,172
  3. ↓ 268Reyansh#806 → #1,074
  4. ↓ 266Javion#949 → #1,215
  5. ↓ 224Kenny#862 → #1,086

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 2020 →